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1178 stories from and about London, mostly council & politics, transport & tfl, local news. The most recent ran on 31 October 2026. Page 15 of 59.
Tesco will operate a free Fruity Pick ‘n’ Mix pop‑up on London’s Southbank on 16 September 2026. The event runs from 8:30 am to 6 pm at Queen’s Walk and celebrates a school programme that has supplied almost 20 million portions to 1,000 schools.
The Bank of England paid £20 million to slave owners after the 1833 abolition act, while 24 of its early directors were investors in the slave trade, a 2022 exhibition also listed 599 enslaved people owned by the bank.
The Climate Change Committee warned that expanding Heathrow cannot meet the UK’s net‑zero target, despite a £33bn proposal to add a third runway. It estimates passenger fares could rise by up to £400 on trans‑Atlantic trips by 2050, and the government says it will review the advice before any decision.
At Inner London Crown Court, jurors are tasked with deciding if a single punch by Ayodele Jamgbadi caused the death of 61‑year‑old Elizabeth line employee Jorge Ortega, who fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury at Ilford station two days after the attack.
A Chartered Trading Standards Institute review found illegal vape sales in a third of 422 test purchases across London. Funding for the service has fallen 23% since 2010, and staff numbers are down 39%, raising concerns ahead of a new licensing regime.
Oasis will play four shows at Knebworth in September 2027. Fans travelling from London King's Cross can expect off-peak train tickets to cost £8.30. Saturday taxi fares from Knebworth to King's Cross start at £89.00. Hotel rooms near the venue are priced at £200.
Merton Council is considering introducing borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Orders that would ban engine idling and allow for fixed penalty notices of up to £500. The proposals also aim to tackle issues such as public use of laughing gas and e-scooter riding in parks.
BBC London reports that a 39% cut to trading‑standards funding and a 23% drop in regulatory services have weakened enforcement of the Tobacco and Vapes Act’s licensing scheme. Illegal vape sales were found in 33% of 422 test purchases by young people, raising concerns for residents.
A 14‑year‑old was charged with affray and two counts of threatening with a bladed article after a fight on Bromley High Street on 10 September left four people injured. Six of eight arrested have been released on bail, and the boy will return to court on 16 September.
The Mayor of London launched a Disability Action Plan on 14 September 2026, targeting 1.2 million Deaf and Disabled residents. While it promises improvements in transport, housing and safety, the Metropolitan Police recorded 2,245 disability‑hate incidents since 2022 and critics argue the plan falls short of needed ambition.
London Assembly members approved a motion denouncing six Green‑led boroughs for declining to help Home Office immigration raids. The councils, Lewisham, Hackney, Haringey, Lambeth, Southwark and Waltham Forest, have all adopted a non‑cooperation stance. The Home Office says arrests for illegal work rose 83% and raids grew 77% over the past year and a half.
The Standard reports that five of eight Home Counties police areas posted weapons possession rates above London’s average in the 2026 residential crime risk study. Sussex leads at 1.41 per 1,000, while Bedfordshire saw the sharpest year‑on‑year rise and Thames Valley Police recorded a notable decline.
UK ministers are being urged to ensure a diplomat accused of possessing indecent images of children faces investigation in England after US authorities reportedly flew him out of the country without informing the Metropolitan Police.
Transport for London has been charged by the Health and Safety Executive over alleged safety failures at Walthamstow bus station that led to the death of 74‑year‑old Grace Mecaley. The first court appearance is set for 25 September at Westminster Magistrates Court.
BBC forecasters say London will not see a heatwave in September, with Met Office temperatures forecast between 24 °C and 19 °C. Thames Water’s hosepipe ban, issued on 23 July, remains active for Barnet, and the Environment Agency warns the drought will persist until nationwide rainfall resumes.
London's iconic black cabs are becoming scarce as drivers struggle to replace vehicles nearing their 12-year expiry. Industry figures claim production issues and a lack of parts are putting jobs at risk, while Transport for London maintains production is meeting demand.
Local authorities have removed 3,393 dockless e‑bikes across London in 2026, a 23% increase on the previous year. Lime operators account for over 2,000 of those bikes. The RNIB says the growing clutter endangers blind and partially sighted people, prompting calls for city‑wide regulation.
The Guardian reports that Transport for London recorded more than 20,000 asbestos‑containing items on the tube network, paid more than £7 million in related compensation, and lost an employment tribunal case after a cleaner claimed unfair dismissal for raising safety concerns.
The BBC gives a 47% likelihood of thunder and lightning at about 10 am on Sunday 13 September, and the Met Office expects rain between 5 am and 11 am. Temperatures will reach 23 °C, dropping to 16 °C overnight, prompting residents to carry umbrellas.
A technical fault at National Air Traffic Services caused the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights on Tuesday. The Ministry of Defence says no military mistake was involved, and the Transport Secretary called the event avoidable. An inquiry is under way.
Borough-wide and national stories that name London or bear directly on it.
High rents, business rates, and reduced bus services are identified as primary drivers weakening Oxford Street. Experts suggest the current approach of pedestrianisation and the impact of Crossrail have worsened the situation, with calls for central government intervention.
Lewisham Council rejected a cross‑borough plan for 802 homes on either side of Deptford Creek in late September 2026. Greenwich approved its part on 13 October, but the mayor will not use his powers to reverse the decision. The development offers only 24 affordable units, 5 % of the total, and the Secretary of State may still intervene.
Westminster recorded the highest number of hate crime offences in London during September 2026, with 120 incidents. Across the capital, 1,868 offences were logged. Transport for London is providing free bystander training in response to rising incidents on its network.
A fatal incident on the tracks at Cannon Street station on 28 October 2026 led British Transport Police to declare the victim dead at the scene. Transport for London halted sections of the District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines until about 7 pm, leaving commuters facing long delays.
Lewisham Council has approved a new housebuilding strategy focused on supporting community groups and housing co-operatives to deliver more affordable homes. This initiative gains importance after Landsec abandoned plans for the Lewisham Shopping Centre, which would have provided approximately 1,700 homes.
Camden Council confirmed the car‑free status of Camden High Street will become permanent at the end of October 2026 following an 18‑month trial funded by Transport for London. The move costs £10,000 to administer and includes a new northbound bus lane on Kentish Town Road to cut bus delays.
Wandsworth Council will issue an enforcement notice requiring 113 Gassiot Road in Tooting Bec to cease unauthorised short-term holiday lets. The property was found listed on Airbnb and Booking.com, letting for over 90 nights.
In a Southwark Crown Court hearing, Russell Brand asserted that his history of public kissing and casual encounters has been wrongly portrayed as rape and sexual assault. He denied all six charges, and a charge of indecent assault was altered to attempted indecent assault.
The death of Stephen Nuth, 51, in HMP Pentonville prompted an inquest that blamed a nurse’s failure to read his medical notes. The coroner’s report has pushed the North London NHS Foundation Trust to amend its policy on reviewing records before inmate assessments.
Wandsworth Council has agreed to allocate £30,000 towards a statue of John Archer, London's first Black mayor. The decision has drawn criticism from Labour councillors, who argue the funds could be better used for services, especially with a proposed 94 per cent council tax increase.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted former police officer Mark Tyrrell of rape, three sexual assaults and perverting the course of justice on 27 October 2026. He remains in custody, will be sentenced on 16 December, and the Met Police may seek to strip his pension.
Anthony Lloyd, 38, escaped from a Lewisham medical facility on 23 October 2026. The Metropolitan Police confirmed on 27 October 2026 that he remains at large and is considered a risk to the public.
Camden Council has confirmed that the pedestrian zone on Camden High Street, introduced as an 18‑month trial, will become permanent. The decision follows a consultation where 57% of respondents backed the move, while the council also plans a design test for an extension over Camden Lock Bridge and a trial bus lane on Kentish Town Road.
The Standard recorded 51 cyclists travelling through Oxford Street’s newly pedestrianised stretch on 27 October 2026. TfL says breaches can attract fines of up to £160, reduced to £80 if paid within two weeks, and is trialling geofencing with dockless operators to limit e‑bike access.
Wandsworth Council is hosting a free meeting on 10 November at All Saints Church, Putney, to brief residents on Heathrow Airport’s third‑runway plans. Over 400 daily overflights have been recorded in Battersea, and the council will use community input for its response to the consultation running until 22 December.
Police were called to Frances Street in Woolwich at 8:09 pm on 22 October after a 32‑year‑old man was shot inside a parked car. The victim remains in critical condition, and detectives are urging anyone with information to contact the Met.
TfL is considering making Angel station exit‑only during evenings and weekends from November and is also studying a full closure that could last up to a year. Local traders and the Islington Council leader warn the move would hurt businesses, while TfL says no decision has been taken yet.
From 26 October a stretch of Oxford Street in Westminster became vehicle‑free. Deliveries may occur only between midnight and 07:00, while emergency services keep full access. The mayor and TfL say the change will be monitored and the street will gain trees, squares and new seating by spring 2027.
A significant section of Oxford Street, between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, has been pedestrianised. The move aims to revitalise the area, boost economic growth, and create a greener environment, though some concerns about traffic diversion have been raised.
A man has died after a tree fell onto a vehicle in Finchley. The incident occurred on Nether Street, which was subsequently closed between Abercorn Road and Crescent Road. Emergency services attended the scene.
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